Knitting reel



. June 24, '1941. N N 2246,71;

KNITTING REEL Filed July 15, 1940 INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented June 24, 1941 ere OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a reel, more particularly intended forrotatably supporting a skein from which thread is being withdrawn forknitting, but also capable of being used to advantage wherever a ball oftwine or yarn is required to be supported to be unwound as it is used.

Among the objects of the invention are:

To provide a superior means for ro-tatably supporting a ball of crochetthread which has been sold to the user wound on a core mountable on abobbin shaft, but the skein purchased, if necessary, can be mounteddirectly on the bobbin shaft provided by the invention; to provide animproved automatic feed for unwinding thread and yarn as it is used inorocheting and knitting; to provide a more freely rotatable bobbin whichautomatically centers itself on the bobbin shaft, and to provide, inconjunction with the aforesaid valuable features, means to safely guardagainst the flexible connection, while being unwound, becoming in anyway entangled or obstructed from being freely fed for use.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improvedcombined bobbin base and bobbin shaft, which is rotatably mounted in anoverlying relation to a supporting base, and which is provided with askirt portion which forms a superior guard to prevent the yarn or stringbeing unwound from becoming obstructed as it is fed from the device.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improvedcombination between a tubular bobbin shaft and supporting spindletherefor, said bobbin shaft being constructed toautomatically centeritself upon said spindle in a freely rotatable manner.

Other objects, advantages, and features of invention will hereinafterappear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates what is atpresent deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device showing a skein of yarnsupported thereon.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing a ball of twine orthread wound upon a tubular core member, said core member beingtelescoped over the bobbin shaft of the device.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in perspective and partly in verticalmid-section, the device being shown per se, without any ball of twine orthe like being supported thereby.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in Fig. 3 the device is showncomprising a circular spindle base 5 having a substantially fiat topsurface 6. Said base may be made solid, but by preference is eithercored out at its under side or is shaped, as shown, as a circular platehaving a depending flange or peripheral wall 7. A spindle 8 upstandsfrom said base, the lower end portion of said spindle being securelyfixed to the base in any preferred manner. The upper end of said spindle8 is tapered at 9 as shown.

A tubular bobbin shaft 10 loosely surrounds said spindle, said shafthaving a closed upper end portion I 1 whereby it is rotatably supportedupon the top of said spindle. Said upper end portion i I presentsinteriorly a conical surface thus causing the tubular shaft to centeritself upon, and provide an antifriction bearing for, the spindle asshown in Fig. 3. Said bobbin shaft ID is fixed at its lower end to thecentral part of the horizontal top portion i2 of the bobbin base l3. Thelength of the tubular shaft I0 is so proportioned with respect to thatof the spindle 8 that the plate (2 is rotatably supported slightly abovethe top of the supporting base 5, as well shown in Fig. 3. The centralportion of said plate [2 is provided with an aperture I4 through whichthe spindle 3 extends with a working fit.

The central apertured portion I4 of the bobbin plate i2 affords what isat present deemed to be the best means for providing a lower bearing orguide for the spindle 8, but if desired other suitable bearing means ina downwardly spaced relation to the top of the spindle 8 may beprovided.

The bobbin base 12 is furnished with a skirt portion which comprises adependent peripheral flange I5, said flange being in an outwardly spacedrelation to the peripheral wall I of the supporting base 5. The loweredge portion of said flange I5 is provided with an outwardly directedflange, bead or curl I6. As well shown in Fig. 3, said part It ismaintained in an upwardly spaced relation to the lower side of the base5 and hence does not interfere with the free rotation of the bobbinshaft when said base 5 is resting upon a fiat supporting surface. At thesame time, said part it provides an additional safeguard against thethread or other flexible connection from becoming looped under theflange :5 while it is being unwound from the reel.

In Fig. 1 a skein of yarn 2i! is shown mounted upon the device, and inFig. 2 a twine ball 2| is shown mounted thereon, said ball having acentral core 22 which is sold with the twine and which can be telescopedover the tubular shaft I0.

Whether a skein of yarn or ball of twine be mounted upon the device, ineither case free and satisfactory unwinding is assured.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall Within the scope of the subject matterclaimed.

What I claim is:

In a reel, a circular spindle base having a substantially flat topsurface provided with a depending flange, a spindle having a taperedupper end upstanding from the central portion of said base, a tubularbobbin shaft loosely surrounding said spindle, said bobbin shaft havinga closed upper end with a conical under surface which rests rotatablyupon the tapered top of said spindle, and a horizontally disposedcircular base plate supported by said bobbin shaft in an upwardly spacedrelation to said spindle base, said base plate having a depending skirtportion completely enveloping said spindle base in an outwardly spacedrelation thereto, said base plate extending inwardly of the mouth ofsaid tubular shaft to form a cross wall Which is provided with a centralbearing and guide aperture wherethrough said spindle extends with aWorking fit, said aperture being located concentric of said tubularshaft.

ALBERT L. BENSON.

